Project Overview
Nestled in the Trees
Clyde Hill Elementary School design embraces it site and surroundings to create a quiet and serene campus that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of nearby downtown Bellevue. Snuggly fit between the City Hall, Fire Station, neighborhood park and Chinook Middle School, Clyde Hill elementary serves as a key connector for the neighborhood. Embracing the City required 25-foot height limit as an opportunity rather than a constraint, the building skillfully nestles into the landscape, masking its size and scale. Stately Douglas Fir trees were carefully preserved and surround the campus. An abundance of native plantings create landscapes of forest understory, wetlands and open meadows. Storm water is not only stored and treated but used as an identity maker for the campus and an educational opportunity for students, faculty and community members. Bridges cross and playful rain channels feed into the many bioretention areas making them an integral part of one’s educational experience.
